Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 9 June 1990
Aircraft Type: Britten-Norman BN-2A-20 Islander
Owner/operator: Falcon Airlines
Registration Number: VH-FCJ
Location: Mabuiag Island Airport, QLD (UBB) –
ÿ Australia
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Component Affected: Telecom systemTelecom system
Investigating Agency: BASIBASI
Category: Accident
A flight was scheduled to depart from Mabuiag Island but was delayed due to a faulty telecom system. The pilot, upon arrival, determined the strip was suitable for operation and landed within the strip. However, a sudden and unexpected slippery condition caused a slide off the strip, resulting in the aircraft becoming stuck on the beach.A flight was scheduled to depart from Mabuiag Island but was delayed due to a faulty telecom system. The pilot, upon arrival, determined the strip was suitable for operation and landed within the strip. However, a sudden and unexpected slippery condition caused a slide off the strip, resulting in the aircraft becoming stuck on the beach.
Description
Well before the flight was due to depart, the company agent at Mabuiag Island endeavoured to warn the operator that the strip was wet and unsuitable for operations. This attempt to communicate failed due to a local fault in the Telecom system. The pilot was aware of a previous recent accident where a pilot landed short of the runway lip. When he arrived, he assessed the strip as suitable and landed well into the strip. By the time that he discovered that the strip was slippery, it was too late to go around. When it became obvious that he could not stop within the confines of the strip by using normal braking, he attempted a ground loop. The aircraft slid sideways off the end of the strip onto a beach.
Primary Cause
Faulty telecom system preventing timely communication regarding the strip’s condition.Faulty telecom system preventing timely communication regarding the strip’s condition.Share on:
